Edible Idol: Say Cheese!

Chester Cheetah once said, "It ain't easy bein' cheesy." Keeping things cheesy and guilt-free can be even more challenging. Luckily, we've got it down to a science here at Hungryland. In celebration, we're crowning CHEESE your next Edible Idol!

When we need a boost of delicious cheesy flavor, we go with wedges of The Laughing Cow Light. The Creamy Swiss is classic, but all the flavors rock! Each spreadable wedge has a mere 35 calories and 1.5 - 2g fat (PointsPlus® value 1*). When we need rich cream-cheese texture in a portion-controlled package, it's all about the Cow's Smooth Sensations wedges. Each of these has 45 calories and 4g fat (PointsPlus® value 1*).

Shredded Cheese: Reduced-Fat Mexican-Blend

Shortcut city! You get flavorful varieties like Monterey Jack and cheddar all in one ready-to-use package. Perfect for tacos, nachos, and so much more. An average 1/4-cup serving has a respectable 80 calories and 5.5g fat (PointsPlus® value 2*). Click for a couple of new recipes featuring the yummy stuff!

So much flavor in these bitty crumbles! While we sometimes turn to fat-free feta in order to keep the calories and fat down in decadent recipes, the reduced-fat kind is our typical go-to. A 1/4-cup helping has around 70 calories and 5g fat (PointsPlus® value 2*). Uh-mazing in Mediterranean-inspired eats like these Yummy Yummy Chicken Gyros and Spanakopita 'Panadas.

Grated Cheese: Reduced-Fat Parmesan-Style Topping

In a category of its own, we're crazy about this sprinkle-on-everything stuff with a slightly sharp flavor. We love the way it adheres to French fries, adds specialness to sauces, and delivers the perfect finishing touch to a bowl of no-guilt pasta. And of course, we love how few calories it brings along with it -- a 2-tsp. serving has only 20 calories and 1g fat (PointsPlus® value 1*).

Cheese's Greatest Hits

Grill It! The grilled cheese sandwich is an icon in its own right... so much so that we already gave it its own Edible Idol feature. Check out our GC-making must-haves, along with some incredible recipes. Oh heck, click here for a couple of new recipes as well!

Mac It! The combo of macaroni and cheese is one of those classic pairings we all go gaga for. Each of those things is great alone, but they're MUCH better together... and even better still when guilt-free! Read up on everything you need to enjoy mac 'n cheese without inhaling too many calories and fat grams. Yup, it too is an Edible Idol!

Snack It! Cheese is delicious without even trying. You CAN dress it up, but you don't need to. Here's a bevy of cheeses we could nibble on all day long. Many of them work great in recipes as well... Click here for a few recipes that call for several cheesy snack staples!

The Greatest-of-Cheese Recipe Roundup

Cheeseburger Mac Attack - Like the delicious love child of mac 'n cheese and a cheeseburger... This slow-cooker recipe rocks!

Gooey-Good Baked Mac 'n Cheese - Homestyle mac 'n cheese can be hard to resist, but there's no need to fight with stats this impressive.

Hungry Grilled Nacho Wrap - Gooey fast-food wraps are crazy tempting, which is why we had to make over this Taco Bell creation. Indulging in ours is much smarter than hitting the drive-thru for the original.

Three-Cheese & Veggie Deep-Dish Pizzettes and Cheese-Filled Mini Meatloaves - A couple of recipes made in a muffin pan that really know how to celebrate the big cheese. Portion-sized comfort food for the win!

Still Hungry?Click here for ANOTHER cheesy recipe roundup, featuring classics like our Turnip the Disco Fries and Four-Cheese Stuffed-Silly Mushrooms!

"I don't know anyone who likes cheese," said NO ONE EVER. Click "Send to a Friend" now!

CHEW ON THIS:

Today, September 20th, is National Punch Day. Celebrate with our Fizzy Virgin Sangria recipe... NOT by hitting someone in the arm (or any body part, for that matter).

We may have received free samples of food, which in no way influences whether these products are reviewed favorably, unfavorably, mentioned with indifference, or mentioned at all. Click for more about our editorial and advertising policies.

*The PointsPlus® values for these products and/or recipes were calculated by Hungry Girl and are not an endorsement or approval of the product, recipe or its manufacturer or developer by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the PointsPlus® registered trademark.